Complications of coil embolization: prevention and management.

From 1975 to 1980, 1,200 steel coils of three different designs were used for vascular occlusion. There were eight significant complications: Two coils were lost and retrieved, one coil was lost and remains in the pulmonary artery, four coils were misplaced to undesired sites, and one coil was fragmented and displaced during surgery. The management and prevention of these complications are described.